Galal Yafai: Rising Flyweight Boxer Prepares for Pivotal Fight
Galal Yafai, an undefeated flyweight boxer with a record of 9 wins (7 by knockout), reflects on his previous trip to Japan as he prepares for a pivotal fight this Saturday night in his hometown of Birmingham, England. At 32 years old, Yafai is eager to secure a second journey to Japan, where he clinched an Olympic gold medal in the 52kg flyweight category during the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Upcoming Match Against Francisco Rodriguez Jr.
In a match that is set to take place at the bp pulse LIVE Arena (formerly known as the NEC Arena), Yafai will face **Francisco Rodriguez Jr.**, who holds a record of 39 wins (27 by knockout), 6 losses, and 1 draw. This contest will determine the WBC interim flyweight champion.
The stakes are high: the victor of the Yafai vs. Rodriguez bout will move on to challenge the winner of the upcoming fight between Kenshiro Teraji, the current Japanese WBC world flyweight champion, and Ricardo Rafael Sandoval from California, scheduled for July 30 in Yokohama, Japan.
Yafai expressed his eagerness to face Teraji if victorious, stating, “I won an Olympic gold medal in Japan. I’ve got good memories of the place, and I enjoyed my time there. It’s a good omen my history there, and it would be nice to go back there and win my first world title in Japan after winning the Olympics there too.”
Recognizing the Challenge in Rodriguez
Despite the allure of a future showdown in Japan, Yafai remains focused on his immediate opponent. Rodriguez, also 32, comes into the match after proving his resilience by going the distance with formidable opponents such as **Junto Nakatani** and **Kazuto Ioka**. In particular, Rodriguez faced Kazuto Ioka for the WBO world junior bantamweight title in September 2021, losing by unanimous decision but showcasing his ability to compete at high levels.
Yafai understands the challenge Rodriguez poses, acknowledging the Mexican fighter’s depth of experience.
“He’s taken the likes of Nakatani and Ioka the distance, he’s been in with some good company, and he was not stopped by those guys, so he’s tough,” Yafai noted.
By defeating Rodriguez, Yafai hopes to clear the way for a title shot at the WBC world title, although he admits the future remains uncertain:
“You never know in this game what is going to happen next.”
Aspirations and Future Goals
Yafai, who transitioned from a job in a car factory to professional boxing, has set his sights on winning a world title at flyweight before contemplating fights in higher weight classes. He has aspirations beyond division constraints, eyeing notable fighters such as Jesse Rodriguez, the reigning WBC world junior bantamweight champion.
“I want to be world champion at flyweight first, then I can look at those other fights at the higher weight divisions.”
With ambitions firmly rooted in the present, Yafai is determined to make his mark in the sport, stating,
“I try not to set long-term goals.”
As he steps into the ring this weekend, Yafai’s eyes are on a future filled with possibility, anchored by his first goal of becoming the flyweight champion before considering the broader landscape of boxing’s bright prospects.
